Chapter 241: Why Kill?
Chapter 241: Why Kill?
“When did Elder Xue Wu die?”
“Exactly who snuck into his room?”
“Hurry and tell us, did you see anyone suspicious?”
Numerous stern shouts rang out.
At first, when the Ghost Official struck outside the Lingwu Sect, killing fifteen Golden Core cultivators from the Seven Clans, it had shaken everyone with fear. But as more people from various sects and clans gathered, their courage grew, and they stopped fearing the Ghost Official, instead wanting to catch him quickly. Yet, another brutal crime suddenly sent shockwaves through the cultivators, tossing them back into their fearful state. Amidst their angry cries, a hint of terror lingered.
“W-we don’t know either…”
Facing the intense questioning from so many important figures, Elder Xue Wu’s servants were so terrified they seemed on the verge of tears.
They stammered: “F-fifth… Fifth Sir came back furious. H-he yelled at… Second Young Master Fang Fang. When we came in, he took his anger out on us too, kicked us all out. W-we waited a long time, figured Fifth Sir must’ve calmed down by now… W-we came in to greet him… only to find… to find Fifth Sir had… had been murdered!”
“Even after being thrown out, you didn’t see anyone enter the hall?”
An Elder from one of the Seven Clans shouted at them, alarmed and furious.
“N-no, no! When Fifth Sir gets angry, he… he loves killing! We all kept… kept far away!”
The servant collapsed to the floor as if his bones had dissolved.
With their master dead, no one knew what would happen to those serving him directly.
“This Ghost Official truly has immense guts…”
Divine Eye Young Master Lu Xiao sighed softly nearby. “If he were an outsider, breaching the Shoushan Sect’s Mountain Protection Array – either openly or by stealth – would have caused a disturbance. Yet, he killed someone so silently. This suggests he might not be an outsider. With all sects gathered here at Lingwu Sect over the Ghost Official matter, the crowd is dense and chaotic… perhaps he’s hidden among us, watching us, waiting for the perfect moment to strike…”
“Earlier, we were all distracted by… by Elder Xue Zhizheng’s affairs, going outside to watch the fight. That’s when the Ghost Official seized his chance, boldly followed Elder Xue Wu back into the sect building, avoided notice, and beheaded him…”
“The… the Ghost Official is among us?”
The gathered Qi Refiners were stunned by this suggestion. Instinctively, they turned and scanned each other.
Suddenly, someone said: “If that’s the case, just figure out who wasn’t present at the viewing spot then!”
Many felt this was insightful and voiced agreement. But soon confusion returned. The earlier commotion drew most cultivators to watch, yet some weren’t interested, had left early, or never even went. How could they figure it out?
“Young Brother Lu makes a good point!”
Amid the growing clamor, Fang Cun suddenly laughed. “However… why Elder Xue Wu?”
Everyone turned to look at him.
Fang Cun furrowed his brow slightly. “Earlier, we deduced the Ghost Official kills for revenge. He’s already slain fifteen Golden Core members of the Seven Clans. Logically, the next target should have been Young Master Bai. Him! Remember? The one who stayed behind causing trouble and narrowly missed the killings outside. Yet… why wasn’t Young Master Bai harmed, but Elder Xue Wu instead?”
His words caused profound shock. Numerous eyes instantly shifted towards Young Master Bai.
“Y-you… what nonsense!”
Young Master Bai nearly burst into tears upon hearing this, shouting angrily. “Who said he… he must kill me?”
“Who knows? With his ability so great, shouldn’t everyone be on guard?”
Fang Cun didn’t argue, just smiled and turned to leave.
“Throwing such careless talk?”
Watching Fang Cun leave so casually after his flippant remark annoyed the Seven Clans Qi Refiners deeply. Initially, their analysis pointed to the Ghost Official’s revenge targeting both Seven Clans Qi Refiners and Fang Cun. Yet now, he washed his hands clean, acting as if it had nothing to do with him.
“Perhaps… he has a point…”
A murmur came from the crowd. Divine Eye Young Master Lu Xiao spoke, drawing all attention.
Amidst their astonishment, Lu Xiao addressed the Seven Clans Qi Refiners and the County Mansion’s Chief Warden: “I need to review all the case files sent by the County Mansion carefully again. Also…” He looked at Bai Huaiyu (Young Master Bai). “…I need to ask you a few questions.”
A long silence hung before the gathered cultivators finally nodded in agreement.
“And before that…”
Lu Xiao turned to the three Elders of the Nine Immortals Sect nearby, his voice low. “…I have questions to research, in return for Second Young Master Fang’s… ‘insight’.”
…
…
“He really did send them…”
The next day, in a side hall, He Zhenzhang craned his neck to see the scroll laid out on Fang Cun’s desk.
Filled with rows of elegant, small characters, the scroll detailed cultivation techniques, obscure and rare, seldom seen in Qingjiang, perhaps the entire Yuan Shen Kingdom. Not all possessed formidable power; some seemed insignificant. Whoever collected them seemed driven less by combat intent than scholarly pursuit. Likely only Divine Eye Young Master Lu Xiao would notice, recall, and compile them.
“I formally requested guidance; naturally, he would send it with sincerity.”
Fang Cun studied the contents with a smile. “Perhaps not all were written by him alone. Some techniques likely involved his three Elders, helping to find and verify. After all, he is the Divine Eye Young Master; how could he appear weaker than me in technique?”
“Tsk, tsk… I don’t understand these geniuses. Clearly not exactly friends…”
He Zhenzhang clucked his tongue, shaking his head with laughter. “…So we just get to benefit like this?”
“Nothing comes so easy!”
Pulling the scroll further, Fang Cun reached its end. Here another question was written: a respectful inquiry regarding the stage of ‘Light Condensation and Divine Essence’, and mastering the Golden Core. He chuckled. “See? Since I asked seriously, he answered meticulously. But answering ends his move; here is his return. If I fail to answer his follow-up question adequately… it implies I lose the exchange.”
He Zhenzhang squinted. “That seems mean! Asking about Golden Core knowledge?”
“Not mean at all.”
Fang Cun shook his head. “By asking, he suggests he believes I might know.”
“Do you?” asked He Zhenzhang.
Fang Cun nodded. “I can only answer half right now. Understanding these twelve meridian techniques fully should reveal the answer.”
Panic gripped the Lingwu Sect facing the Ghost Official’s intrusion and killing. The intense Seven Clans and multiple sects debated countermeasures obsessively. Only Fang Cun seemed detached from the storm. Instead of joining the heated discussions, he remained peacefully within his side hall, calmly studying these techniques.
Initially, the Seven Clans assumed Fang Cun was simply biding his time, restless underneath – after all, the Ghost Official posed a threat to him too. Moreover, even if unafraid of the Ghost Official himself, actively hunting and catching this notorious killer would spread his fame throughout the county, even gaining recognition from the Divine Palace. Considering Second Young Master Fang sought renown, how could he resist such a golden opportunity?
Furthermore, his confrontations with Divine Eye Young Master Lu Xiao always left him favored. But if Lu Xiao solved the Ghost Official case… that glory would surely eclipse Fang Cun’s.
Would Second Young Master Fang truly let that pass?
Yet, despite endless suspicion, Fang Cun remained seemingly untouched by desire, showing no intention to participate.
“Is he really connected to the Ghost Official?”
The Seven Clans grew bewildered by his attitude. Initially, they assumed he merely exploited the Ghost Official’s infamy against them. But now, echoes of doubt took seed. Logically, if the Ghost Official sought revenge, Second Young Master Fang should also be a target. He should be equally frantic to expose the killer. Yet he underwent a complete about-face, growing utterly unconcerned. Could it be… the Ghost Official was truly linked to him?
“I’ve discovered how to draw out the Ghost Official!”
Simultaneously, Divine Eye Young Master Lu Xiao, after exhaustive investigation into Elder Xue Wu’s death, reviewing tangled Ghost Official case files, and searching myriad other dossiers, finally released a deep sigh. Massaging his temples with a weary hand, his revelation came amidst renewed anticipation from the gathered clansmen.
And Lu Xiao added: “Second Young Master Fang… is formidable.”
This baffled those around him: “Why are you suddenly praising that Second Young Master Fang again?”
“His brief insight clarified everything for me!”
Lu Xiao stated quietly. “Understanding why he killed Elder Xue Wu holds the key to capturing the Ghost Official.”
Excitement gleamed in the listeners’ eyes.
Lu Xiao acquired explicit consent from the Elders of his escort, then formally addressed the assembled Seven Clans Qi Refiners: “Wasting time here longer serves no purpose. The paramount task now is protecting Huaiyu. While the Ghost Official struck Elder Xue Wu this round… if I judge correctly, Huaiyu remains his intended target. Thus… using Huaiyu to lure him out becomes our optimal tactic!”
After a brief pause, he continued: “Muster every Qi Refiner from the Seven Clans available. Escort Bai Huaiyu—Young Master Bai—safely back to the Bai Family residence. Spread word deliberately: once safely home, Master Bai will enter seclusion. He will take no public role… for ten years.”
The High Qi Refiners exchanged grim looks and nodded solemnly. Agreement hardened into resolve as the plan solidified in their minds.
To his Great Sect, always and Only as he Told him. His Trusted men.